John Cook’s methodology proves that there is a “pause consensus”. Guest essay by Paul C. “Chip” Knappenberger and Patrick J. Michaels, Center for the Study of Science, Cato Institute The central premise of “global warming” is that human greenhouse-gas emissions will lead to a rise in the earth’s average surface temperature, and that as emissions continue to increase (a result of population growth and the desire to improve public health and welfare through increased energy availability), global average temperature will rise ever faster, that is, accelerate. The U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), back in 2007, claimed the acceleration was happening. This is a central part of both their global warming meme and the notion that it will lead to all sorts of negative consequences (and few, if any, positive ones). Figure 1. Global average surface temperature history with trends through various periods emphasized by the IPCC to bolster their argument that global warming was accelerating (source: IPCC Fourth Assessment Report). As proof the story told by the IPCC represented the “consensus of scientists, ” a research team led by John Cook, founder of the website skepticalscience.com, (which is only “skeptical” about “skeptics”) surveyed the topical scientific literature, and categorized relevant publications as either endorsing the “scientific consensus” that “humans are causing global warming, ” or rejecting it. They found that of those papers in which the authors expressed their opinions, 97.1% endorsed the “scientific consensus.” The results of this study have been trumpeted ever since by climate alarmists and supporters of efforts to curtail greenhouse gas emissions the world over. President Obama even tweeted it: While the White House doesn’t exactly have a reputation for being evenhanded about climate change, we still need to point out that the Cook et al. results said nothing about it being “dangerous.” What Cook et al. did claim to find—that a high percentage of scientists that think that humans play some role in “global warming”—seems to comport pretty well with our own experiences with climate scientists and the climate literature. We definitely would fall within Cook’s 97 percent.

]]>http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/why-global-warming-is-real
http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/why-global-warming-is-realSun, 18 Feb 2018 06:48:00 +0000Small articles on global warmingThe Sarychev Peak Volcano, on Matua Island, erupted on June 12, 2009. New research shows that eruptions of this size may contribute more to the recent lull in global temperature increases than previously thought. Credit: NASA ...

The Sarychev Peak Volcano, on Matua Island, erupted on June 12, 2009. New research shows that eruptions of this size may contribute more to the recent lull in global temperature increases than previously thought. Credit: NASA Small volcanic eruptions might eject more of an atmosphere-cooling gas into Earth's upper atmosphere than previously thought, potentially contributing to the recent slowdown in global warming, according to a new study. Scientists have long known that volcanoes can cool the atmosphere, mainly by means of sulfur dioxide gas that eruptions expel. Droplets of sulfuric acid that form when the gas combines with oxygen in the upper atmosphere can remain for many months, reflecting sunlight away from Earth and lowering temperatures. However, previous research had suggested that relatively minor eruptions—those in the lower half of a scale used to rate volcano "explosivity"—do not contribute much to this cooling phenomenon. Now, new ground-, air- and satellite measurements show that small volcanic eruptions that occurred between 2000 and 2013 have deflected almost double the amount of solar radiation previously estimated. By knocking incoming solar energy back out into space, sulfuric acid particles from these recent eruptions could be responsible for decreasing global temperatures by 0.05 to 0.12 degrees Celsius (0.09 to 0.22 degrees Fahrenheit) since 2000, according to the new study accepted to Geophysical Research Letters , a journal of the American Geophysical Union. The warmest year on record is 1998. After that, the steep climb in global temperatures observed over the 20th century appeared to level off. Scientists previously suggested that weak solar activity or heat uptake by the oceans could be responsible for this lull in temperature increases, but only recently have they thought minor volcanic eruptions might be a factor.

]]>http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/small-articles-on-global-warming
http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/small-articles-on-global-warmingFri, 19 Jan 2018 06:46:00 +0000Global warming argument articlesThe 2013 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states with 95 percent confidence that humans have caused most, and probably all of the rapid global warming over the past 60 years. Approximately 97 percent of ...

The 2013 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states with 95 percent confidence that humans have caused most, and probably all of the rapid global warming over the past 60 years. Approximately 97 percent of climate experts and peer-reviewed climate science studies agree. There are of course open questions yet to be answered by climate scientists – precisely how sensitive the climate is to the increased greenhouse effect, for example. But even in a best case, low sensitivity scenario, we're headed for dangerously rapid climate change if we continue on our current business as usual path. And the worst case scenario, which is just as likely as the best case scenario, would mean we're headed for a global catastrophe. The IPCC warns that if we want to avoid very dangerous climate change, we're on track to blow through our allowed carbon budget in as little as two to three decades if we continue on our current path of relying on fossil fuels. If we're lucky and the low sensitivity scenario is accurate, perhaps we'll have an extra decade or two, but even in this best case scenario, we're on an unsustainable climate path. Politically biased media climate coverage is not a coincidence The scientific evidence is what it is, and it has no political bias. The same is not true of the media outlets that cover the topic. It's not a coincidence that politically conservative tabloids and newspapers like the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Australian, and Wall Street Journal spend a disproportionate amount of time amplifying the voices of the less than 3 percent of climate contrarian scientists, as well as many non-scientist contrarians.

]]>http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/global-warming-argument-articles
http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/global-warming-argument-articlesWed, 20 Dec 2017 06:42:00 +0000Global warming effects on the worldWarning signs today: A recent study of nearly 2, 000 species of plants and animals discovered movement toward the poles at an average rate of 3.8 miles per decade. Similarly, the study found species in alpine areas to be moving ...

Warning signs today: A recent study of nearly 2, 000 species of plants and animals discovered movement toward the poles at an average rate of 3.8 miles per decade. Similarly, the study found species in alpine areas to be moving vertically at a rate of 20 feet per decade in the second half of the 20th century. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report found that approximately 20 to 30 percent of plant and animal species assessed so far are likely to be at increased risk of extinction if global average temperature increases by more than 2.7 to 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Some polar bears are drowning because they have to swim longer distances to reach ice floes. The U. S. Geological Survey has predicted that two-thirds of the world's polar bear sub-populations will be extinct by mid-century due to melting of the Arctic ice cap. In Washington's Olympic Mountains, sub-alpine forest has invaded higher elevation alpine meadows. Bermuda's mangrove forests are disappearing. In areas of California, shoreline sea life is shifting northward, probably in response to warmer ocean and air temperatures. Over the past 25 years, some Antarctic penguin populations have shrunk by 33 percent due to declines in winter sea-ice habitat. The ocean will continue to become more acidic due to carbon dioxide emissions. Because of this acidification, species with hard calcium carbonate shells are vulnerable, as are coral reefs, which are vital to ocean ecosystems. Scientists predict that a 3.6 degree Fahrenheit increase in temperature would wipe out 97 percent of the world's coral reefs. Find out more about the consequences of global warming on: Weather patterns | Health | Wildlife | Glaciers & sea levels Photo credits: polar bears: Corbis. The World We Create: A Message of Hope for a Planet in Peril By Frances Beinecke with Bob Deans This Is Global Warming Watch the Video » Our new video shows the effects of global warming in the world today. NRDC Gets Top Ratings from the Charity Watchdogs Worth magazine named NRDC one of America's 100 best charities.

]]>http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/global-warming-effects-on-the-world
http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/global-warming-effects-on-the-worldMon, 20 Nov 2017 06:40:00 +0000Defined global warming and its effectsWhile many organizations and governments use the term Global Warming, there is no universal definition for Global Warming. There is, however, a general understanding of what the term references. According to the Natural Resources ...

While many organizations and governments use the term Global Warming, there is no universal definition for Global Warming. There is, however, a general understanding of what the term references. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, global warming is any increase in the average temperature of the earth's surface. This increase may be caused by natural occurrences within the earth's atmosphere or by man made influences. Causes of Global Warming Global warming is caused by an increase in greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases occur naturally within the atmosphere at levels that are not detrimental to the environment. The earth does an outstanding job of balancing each of its processes in order to keep everything in check. However, when mankind's efforts to "improve" life interfere, the balance is interrupted. How Severe is It? The Environmental Protection Agency reports that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that global temperatures will rise, as will sea levels, with the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, precipitation patterns are predicted to change. What is not known, however, is the extent to which the earth will warm, how fast this will occur and how the earth will be affected, including climate systems and storms. One thing that is definite, however, is levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) are increasing. The buildup of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is the result of human efforts to better life by burning fossil fuels and industrializing society. From 1906 to 2005, it's documented that the earth warmed 1 to 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit. The greenhouse gases in the atmosphere right now are predicted to remain there for decades to centuries. This will cause the potential build up of even more gases over time, causing even more global warming effects. Climate Change Already, changes in the climate can be seen. The predictions about El Nino and other weather patterns came true. Along with record-breaking heat and cold throughout the world. Another change in climate that is obvious is the less predictable weather. Typically, certain areas of the world have weather that follows normal trends with average temperatures and average precipitation levels. In the past decade, these norms and averages have become less and less predictable. Major snowfalls and blizzards have been more common, in addition to droughts and flooding in areas never flooded before. These changes in climate can be attributed to an increase in greenhouse gases and global warming.

]]>http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/defined-global-warming-and-its-effects
http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/defined-global-warming-and-its-effectsSat, 21 Oct 2017 06:38:00 +0000Role of CO2 in global warmingWhat the science says... Select a level... Basic Intermediate Advanced An enhanced greenhouse effect from CO2 has been confirmed by multiple lines of empirical evidence. Predicting the Future Good scientific theories are said to ...

What the science says... Select a level... Basic Intermediate Advanced An enhanced greenhouse effect from CO2 has been confirmed by multiple lines of empirical evidence. Predicting the Future Good scientific theories are said to have ‘predictive power’. In other words, armed only with a theory, we should be able to make predictions about a subject. If the theory’s any good, the predictions will come true. Here’s an example: when the Table of Elements was proposed, many elements were yet to be discovered. Using the theory behind the Periodic Table, the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev was able to predict the properties of germanium, gallium and scandium, despite the fact they hadn’t been discovered. The effect of adding man-made CO2 is predicted in the theory of greenhouse gases. This theory was first proposed by Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius in 1896, based on earlier work by Fourier and Tyndall. Many scientist have refined the theory in the last century. Nearly all have reached the same conclusion: if we increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the Earth will warm up. What they don’t agree on is by how much. This issue is called ‘climate sensitivity’, the amount the temperatures will increase if CO2 is doubled from pre-industrial levels. Climate models have predicted the least temperature rise would be on average 1.65°C (2.97°F), but upper estimates vary a lot, averaging 5.2°C (9.36°F). Current best estimates are for a rise of around 3°C (5.4°F), with a likely maximum of 4.5°C (8.1°F). What Goes Down… The greenhouse effect works like this: Energy arrives from the sun in the form of visible light and ultraviolet radiation. The Earth then emits some of this energy as infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere 'capture' some of this heat, then re-emit it in all directions - including back to the Earth's surface. Through this process, CO2 and other greenhouse gases keep the Earth’s surface 33°Celsius (59.4°F) warmer than it would be without them. We have added 42% more CO2, and temperatures have gone up. There should be some evidence that links CO2 to the temperature rise. So far, the average global temperature has gone up by about 0.8 degrees C (1.4°F): "According to an ongoing temperature analysis conducted by scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS)…the average global temperature on Earth has increased by about 0.8°Celsius (1.4°Fahrenheit) since 1880. Two-thirds of the warming has occurred since 1975, at a rate of roughly 0.15-0.20°C per decade." The temperatures are going up, just like the theory predicted. But where’s the connection with CO2, or other greenhouse gases like methane, ozone or nitrous oxide? The connection can be found in the spectrum of greenhouse radiation. Using high-resolution FTIR spectroscopy, we can measure the exact wavelengths of long-wave (infrared) radiation reaching the ground.

MA may miss 2020 GHG emissions reduction requirement by 5% The Patrick Administration’s successful clean energy initiatives have made Massachusetts a leader in energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate protection. The GWSP Scorecard estimates that without ramped up effort MA stands to fall short of the 2020 requirement by 5%. The report assesses the state's progress in reducing emissions and offers proposals for further action in 2014. "Going the distance to meet the greenhouse gas emission targets by realizing all the opportunities within our energy efficiency programs in the commercial/industrial sector, benefits business directly by reducing energy costs...

]]>http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/global-warming-project-report
http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/global-warming-project-reportMon, 18 Sep 2017 15:21:00 +0000Things that affect global warmingGarbage that ends up in a landfill contributes to greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases trap the sun's rays within the Earth's atmosphere and are considered one of the main culprits behind global warming. Humans contribute to the ...

Garbage that ends up in a landfill contributes to greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases trap the sun's rays within the Earth's atmosphere and are considered one of the main culprits behind global warming. Humans contribute to the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases - notably carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide - through deforestation, agriculture, energy production and waste disposal (see References 1). Several things used everyday in your home produce gases like these that contribute to global warming...

]]>http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/things-that-affect-global-warming
http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/things-that-affect-global-warmingMon, 11 Sep 2017 06:07:00 +0000Definitions of global warmingJoe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images The term "global warming" refers to the increase in the average temperature of global surface air and oceans since about 1950, and to continuing increases in those temperatures. Another ...

Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images The term "global warming" refers to the increase in the average temperature of global surface air and oceans since about 1950, and to continuing increases in those temperatures. Another term for "global warming" is "climate change." Per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace with Al Gore for landmark work on climate change: "The global surface temperature is an estimate of the global mean surface air temperature. However, for changes over time, only anomalies... are used, most commonly based on the area-weighted global average of the sea surface temperature anomaly and land surface air temperature anomaly." Per Wikipedia, "The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that... greenhouse gases are responsible for most of the observed temperature increase since the middle of the twentieth century, and that natural phenomena such as solar variation and volcanoes probably had a small warming effect from pre-industrial times to 1950 and a small cooling effect afterward. "These basic conclusions have been endorsed by more than 40 scientific societies and academies of science, including all of the national academies of science of the major industrialized countries." Greenhouse gases are defined by the IPCC as "gaseous constituents of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, that absorb and emit radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of thermal infrared radiation emitted by the Earth’s surface, the atmosphere itself, and by clouds." Why Do We Care About Greenhouse Gases? The IPCC explains "... Greenhouse gases effectively absorb thermal infrared radiation, emitted by the Earth’s surface, by the atmosphere itself due to the same gases, and by clouds. Atmospheric radiation is emitted to all sides, including downward to the Earth’s surface. Thus, greenhouse gases trap heat within the surface-troposphere system. This is called the greenhouse effect." Summary of "What Is Global Warming?" Global warming refers to the increased temperature of Earth's surface, including land, water and near-surface air. See other quick-reading articles in this series: Also read President Obama's Speech at U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

]]>http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/definitions-of-global-warming
http://global-safety-culture.com/GlobalWarming/definitions-of-global-warmingThu, 07 Sep 2017 04:13:00 +0000Global warming articles for studentsTrinity Lake in northern California, one of the state's largest water reservoirs, was at 30 percent capacity in August. This photo shows the lake in February. Credit: California Water Science Center California's severe and ...

Trinity Lake in northern California, one of the state's largest water reservoirs, was at 30 percent capacity in August. This photo shows the lake in February. Credit: California Water Science Center California's severe and ongoing drought is just a taste of the dry years to come, thanks to global warming, a new study finds. "California's warming trend is driving an increase in the risk of drought, " said study co-author Daniel Swain, a doctoral student in climate science at Stanford University in California. A dry year does not always trigger a drought, even in the arid West. But the new report finds that dry years are now more likely to hit during long heat waves — and human-caused climate change is to blame, the researchers said. [The 5 Worst Droughts in US History] "Warming in California has made it more probable that when a low precipitation year occurs, it occurs in warm conditions and is more likely to produce severe drought, " said lead study author Noah Diffenbaugh, an associate professor in the School of Earth Sciences at Stanford. "That warming would not have occurred without greenhouse gas emissions." Heat and low precipitation are a deadly combination in California, which relies on winter rain and snow to fill its rivers and reservoirs. The state is now entering its fourth year of severe drought conditions, with an estimated economic impact approaching $2 billion, according to a University of California, Davis report. And 2015 won't see much relief: The snowpack is trending at record low levels because of high temperatures and low snowfall. Warm temperatures also cause more water loss and evaporation from soils and reservoirs, Swain said.